Düsseldorf: The majority of amusement arcades need to shut down.
As the clock strikes midnight ushering in the new year, scores of amusement arcade operators in North Rhine-Westphalia brace themselves for potentially devastating news. Approximately two-thirds of the establishments in the state capital, Düsseldorf, risk closure. The city council has already issued notices.
The legal foundation supporting these orders is the State Treaty on Gambling, which the federal states revised in 2012. The primary stipulation dictates the maintenance of a minimum distance between gaming arcades and youth facilities. In NRW, this was set at 350 meters; if several establishments fall within this range, only one can survive. In Düsseldorf, roughly 30 of the existing 100 gambling arcades are expected to persist. Relocating the businesses or combining several arcades in a single building is illegal, thus the only viable solution is often closure. The city center is particularly affected, with a dozen arcades close to the main train station conflict with these guidelines.
Surprisingly, the operators did not find the orders entirely unexpected. The city administration is behind schedule with notifications. Oddly enough, the five-year transition period of the state treaty ended last summer, but, like most major cities, the authorities hesitated with enforcement due to legal uncertainties.
Courting Controversy
A thorny issue arises regarding selecting which business can stay if several arcades meet the criteria. Disgruntled operators choose to use legal action to contest the competition and the authorities. Additionally, they seek to receive hardship exemptions for themselves. Their primary argument centers on job loss but also encompasses investments they've made in their businesses. Twisted dilemmas, states Christian Zaum, a legal professional from the CDU, that call for careful deliberation.
In most instances, the city's rulings will inevitably progress to courts, where more than a hundred such lawsuits have been filed. Consequently, the implementation of new legislation is, once more, stalled. The value of the minimum distance legislature is now debated, as it is ambiguous if fewer establishments equate to less gambling. Players have plenty of substitute options, with online gambling gaining traction as a growing trend. This will also sap state coffers, as these businesses have previously paid millions in gaming tax.
Uneven Ground
A further point of controversy arises from differing handling in some cities and municipalities. Hagen, for example, closes only one of its 75 gaming arcades while other venues receive approval for their hardship applications. How Düsseldorf chooses to interpret the Gambling Act more stringently, targeting the majority of its casinos, sparks controversy. The operators find themselves in an unconventional position, their enterprise's survival hinging on fortune, as the authorities might decide, by random draw, if they are deemed equally qualified. Essentially, the operators have devolved into participants in their own game of chance.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
